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About Our Instructors
Karunamayi, Kathryn Wiese, Director
As a Certified Anusara yoga instructor who teaches internationally, Karunamayi offers her desire to be of service through the gifts of Anusara’s transformative teachings. Her teaching strengths within the Anusara yoga methodology are centered within yogic and Tantric philosophy, the energetic body and the transformative power of sound, called mantra yoga.
Karunamayi, who has taught yoga as well as additional health and wellness classes for ten years, also holds a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certificate through Yoga Alliance. She has studied with John Friend, the founder of Anusara yoga, and has logged thousands of hours in the study of Anusara yoga with Senior Anusara Instructors Jim and Ruthie Bernaert. Additionally, Karunamayi has studied with Tantric scholar Paul Muller-Ortega. Her teacher, Sri Vasudeva of Trinidad, is currently teaching her to become a Kundalini yoga instructor.
Her classes are known for being upbeat, supportive of the individual and inspiring–with inspiration that comes from John Friend, who encourages students to make “every pose a prayer.”
Anusara yoga Classes with Karunamayi
Drawing upon Anusara teachings and principles, Karunamayi’s classes combine her love of movement with heart-centered themes. Beginning/Level 1 students will learn the principles of alignment; enhance strength, stability and flexibility; and learn how to safely and strategically move within the yoga poses. “All Levels” and Level 2 students will enjoy more flow-oriented classes that build tapas (heat), remove toxins from the body and nurture inner radiance.
Jim Bernaert
Jim has been a student of yoga since 1984. In 1996 he began intensive study with Anusara yoga founder John Friend and in 2000 he became a certified Anusara yoga teacher. He offers his years of experience with the Universal Principles of Alignment, inspiring Tantric philosophy and therapeutics which embody Anusara yoga. Students experience the clarity of his understanding, his precise instructions and his warm and generous heart.
Ruthie Bernaert
Ruthie is a certified Anusara yoga instructor. Her teaching reflects her love for life and for the practice of yoga. She delights in helping others to discover their own greatness. Ruthie has gratitude for all her teachers, especially Gurumayi, John Friend, and of course all her students.
Level I/II Anusara yoga Classes with Jim
An upbeat, mixed level class in the Anusara style. It will strengthen you, open you up, and take you deeper inside.
SiFu Gwen Fujioka
Sifu* Gwen has been a Tai Chi (Tai Ji) and Chi Kung (Qigong) practitioner since 1993, initially studying the Yang Style Long Form under Master Tom Grunden. In 1998, she was certified and began teaching Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Stress Management & Meditation classes at the Hilton Waikoloa’s Kohala Spa. In 2001, she received another Instructor’s Certificate from Sifu Seng Jeorng Au of Au’s Shaolin Arts Society on Oahu, whose lineage is based on the Choy Lee Fut system: Chan Family Lohan Qigong and Tai Ji. In 2004, a third Instructor’s Certificate was earned from Master Hui-Xian Chen of California, whose lineage includes the Turtle Longevity Qigong.
Currently, she teaches Meditation, Chi Kung & Tai Chi classes on the Big Island. In 2002, Sifu Gwen traveled to Germany and China for further intensive training in these ancient and highly effective health maintenance systems. Again, in 2006, she journeyed back to China for more advanced training in Tai Ji and Qigong with Grandmaster Chan Yong Fa and SiFu John Saw.
Sifu Gwen is also a Certified Energy Practitioner and a Licensed Massage Therapist for Dr. John Stover’s North Hawaii Medical Spa in Waimea. Born and raised in Hilo, Gwen is the mother of two wonderful teenagers, Jonathan and Cheryl, and resides in beautiful Waimea.
Instructor for Qigong/Chi Kung
Qigong is the art of cultivating “qi” (“chi” or life energy) by coordinating your breath and movements with intention. Also known as: “ THE” Chinese secret of “exchanging qi with the universe” to bring balance back into one’s entire physical, mental, emotional & spiritual system. Based on the ancient eastern traditions and practiced in a meditative setting, this highly effective health maintenance system provides more of a “bodywork” environment rather than purely an exercise one. Its movements are gentle, opening and explorative instead of goal oriented and aggressive…all ideal for anyone wanting to improve their overall health naturally or in conjunction with western therapies.
Cathleen Rickard
has been teaching Tai Chi since early 1979. As a certified instructor, she was very excited about having such a helpful and beneficial tool that she could share with so many different levels of people and their needs. She taught groups of Parole Officers, inmates in high security prisons, school teachers in yearly motivational seminars, administrative staff in hospitals, women's groups, recovery groups, Church of Religious Science groups at Asilomar, emotionally challenged children, senior groups and so many wonderful, ordinary people through community colleges and recreation departments.
She expanded her repertoire and added Chi Kung forms into her classes, several years after she had been initially certified.
Cathleen finds that combining 18 Form Chi Kung, with deep breathing, along with her connected Tai Chi style, creates a class that allows the benefits of strong chi flow for healing and well being, as well as excellent exercise to strengthen the body, the bones, and relax the mind. Chi pressure point work is included as well as standing and walking meditations.
Other wonderful Chi Kung movements are introduced at different times for extra challenge and benefits.
Wear comfortable clothing, soft soled shoes or rubber soled shoes. Bring water. Chairs are supplied for those who must sit and rest during the class.
These movements are easy to learn! We are non-competitive and encourage a smile.
Sasha Williams
is first and foremost a mother! Her two greatest teachers are her son, Bodhi (born 2002), and her daughter, Rani (born 2004). They moved to the Big Island in 2007, along with husband and father, Ron, from the cold reaches of Lansing, Michigan (where she lived for 11 years). Sasha grew up in the Bay Area and holds degrees in ethnic studies and vocal music. Sasha has taught weekly prenatal yoga classes on the Big Island since early 2008. She is a certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator, a Certified Lactation Counselor, a Certified Birth Doula, and most recently began teaching her Lamaze childbirth education classes for North Hawai’i Community Hospital. Sasha thrives in the teaching environment, and offers highly entertaining and informative classes. Her yoga classes are inspiring, thoughtful, and grounded in an alignment-based yoga practice that is safe for the entire pregnancy.
Instructor for Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal Yoga provides an opportunity to deepen your connection with your changing body, your baby and other pregnant women in the community. No previous yoga experience is necessary.
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